Turtle Bay Tango

By

Michael McFaul

Updated Oct. 14, 2003 12:01 a.m. ET

The U.S. and the U.N. are drifting toward divorce. The acrimony is understandable. President Bush went before the U.N. seeking affirmation to enforce its resolutions against Iraq. When he failed, he went ahead unilaterally to pursue what he deemed to be the national interest. In the aftermath of America's decision to go it alone in war, most U.N. members prefer to see the U.S. go it alone in peace as well.

If understandable, the impasse is not excusable. In fact, it's dangerous, especially for the future of the U.N. If the...